Frequently asked questions

The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (the Commission) has a statutory duty to conduct the appointments process and make recommendations to the Lord Chancellor in respect of all appointments up to and including High Court Judge.

The Appointments Team oversees the entire Appointments Process from advertising the post through to rubber-stamping the terms and conditions of employment for the new judicial post holder.

The Appointments Team also support the Commissioners in the development and implementation of appointments strategies and policies. This ensures that the Commission meets its statutory obligations and ensures a best practice approach to recruitment and selection.

What are the procedures for appointing judicial office holders?

The Commission recommends candidates on the basis of merit using transparent procedures that will enhance public confidence in the appointment process and to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, a judiciary that is reflective of the community.

This is achieved through a fair, rigorous and transparent appointment process that is grounded in merit.

How does this work in practice?

The Commission achieves this through outreach and advertising of the judicial office and then applying the identified competences required for holders of judicial office to the knowledge, experience, skills, abilities and personal qualities of those applying for judicial office.

What does a typical scheme involve?

Each judicial appointment scheme commences with a request to the Commission from the Government department with responsibility for the particular judicial office to which an appointment has to be made.

We are requested to conduct a recruitment scheme to identify one or more candidates for recommendation to the Lord Chancellor for appointment.

Once the Commission has approved the request and the timetable is set, taking account of the other appointment schemes which we are obliged to run, an advertisement will be placed in the newspapers and other locations such as the Commission website and applications are invited.

Who agrees the competences and selection criterion?

The competences and criteria required for the particular appointment will have been agreed by the Commission and a Selection Committee is established. The Selection Committee is responsible for shortlisting candidates and identifying the candidate(s) for recommendation for appointment.

Who sits on the Selection Committee?

The Committee comprises members of the Commission and may include those who are not members of the Commission but who have the required expertise. Each Committee is chaired by a member of the Commission.

The process in relation to each scheme always includes an eligibility exercise and may include a shortlisting exercise and an interview process. A programme of action to meet our statutory responsibilities is also implemented in each case.

When does the Commission recommend appointment?

The Commission will recommend to the Lord Chancellor those candidates who, following the application of the eligibility criteria, and the Selection Committees’ assessment of each candidates performance at the Assessment/Shortlisting and Interview Stages of the appointments process, best demonstrate that they meet the required competences and criteria for each judicial office.

Once all required vetting procedures have been completed and the result of the selection process is known the Appointments Team submit the recommendation to the Commission for their ratification of the recommendation. The recommendation is then forwarded to the Lord Chancellor for approval of the appointment.

What role does the Commission play in renewing appointments?

The Commission is also responsible for recommending to the Lord Chancellor whether or not he should renew the appointment of those appointed to deputy posts and those appointed to fee paid posts.

The Lord Chancellor’s policy in respect of renewal, which gives fee paid office holders and deputy office holders’ security of tenure through automatic re-appointment is subject to the individual office holder’s agreement and the individual satisfying the conditions for appointment and there being no grounds for non renewal.

What are the grounds for non-renewal of an appointment?

The grounds for non renewal are limited to:

• misbehaviour;
• incapacity;
• persistent failure to comply with existing requirements;
• failure to comply with training requirements;
• sustained failure to observe the standards reasonably expected from a holder of such office;
• a reduction in numbers because of changes in operational requirements; or
• part of a structural change to enable recruitment of new part-time judicial office holders.

Where can I get more information on the Appointments Process?

Further Information is available on this website under the following headings:

What we do

Competence Based Assessment

Current Vacancies